Adjustable hand brace



March 29,193.80 R. w. ROBERTS 2,112,577

ADJUSTABLE HAND BRACE Filed NOV. 25, 1935 INVENTOR Fay. 14 Faber/ 5 TTORNEY Patented Mar. 29, 1938 7 Claims.

My invention relates to firearms and particularly relates to firearms of an elongated barrel type and to a hand brace therefor which enables stability of support in the manipulation of the firearm.

The invention has for an object to provide a hand brace for a firearm which is adapted to be mounted relative to the barrel to afford a definite allocation and bracing support for the hand 10 of the aiming and supporting arm of the user. As the said hand is maintained by the brace in a substantially fixed relation to the firearm, the user may, by use of my invention, eifect repetitive duplication of performance on a target. The invention also has for its object to provide a hand brace wherein adjustments of its position relative to the firearm may be easily and quickly made, as when another target presents itself or the user changes the position of his aiming arm.

Heretofore, such hand abutment members, as were provided, were mounted in a fixed, nonadjustable relation to the fore-end of the firearm, often being formed substantially integral therewith, as by partially driving screws into said fore-end and molding wood pulp thereabout to form a hand brace member in which the heads of said screws were embedded and the like. Adjustment of position of such abutment members to various positions along the fore-end to meet various and momentarily changing exigencies of firing positions or changing target are burdensome and disconcerting to the user, often requiring a re-assembly of the various parts in their newly desired relation. My invention provides a hand abutment member that may be easily adjusted, even while the rifieman remains in a shooting position, such as a prone position, by merely manually seizing the member and moving it to any position desired, at which position a means thereupon automatically locks the memher.

The invention has for another object to provide a hand brace usable conjointly with a sling strap and adjustable with reference to the firearm, whereby the end thrust of the firearm butt against the users shoulder, developed by the relative tautness of the sling, may be maintained constant regardless of the relative position of the users aiming and supporting arm. The invention thus provides means for producing, in effect, a more integral relation between the body of the user and the firearm, resulting in greater coordination between the two and increased effi- 55; ciency in marksmanship regardless of the users change of physical position. The invention also eliminates the need for varying the length of the sling as the user changes the position of the aiming and supporting arm, as when firing at a different target or at the same target in a dif- 5 ferent position. v

The invention has for a particular object to provide a hand brace, the position of which may be adjusted along the fore-end of an elongated barrel type of firearm to fit the particular firearm to various users physical eccentricities, such as abnormally long or short arms, etc. The invention has also for a further particular object to afford an adjustable hand brace wherein the desired features are contained in a structure of 10 simple construction and one which may be easily installed.

My invention consists in other features and advantages which will appear from the following description and upon examination of the 20 drawing. Structures containing the invention may partake of different forms and still embody the invention. To illustrate a practical application of the invention, I have selected an adjustable hand brace as an example of the various structures and details thereof that contain the invention and shall describe the selected structure hereinafter, it being understood that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. The particular structure selected is shown in the accompanying drawing and described hereinafter.

Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing illustrates a perspective view of an adjustable hand brace embodying my invention and shown in a position of use. Fig. 2 of the drawing illustrates a broken longitudinal section of the fore-end of a firearm showing the relationship of the adjustable hand brace parts thereto. Fig. 3 of the drawing illustrates an enlarged View of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 illustrates a view of a section taken on the plane of the line li indicated in Fig. 3.

It is to be observed that the fitness of a firearm to the user increases the skill of its use and is evident in the steadiness of aim thereof. Often a sling, like the illustrated sling i of a Well-known form, is resorted to which tends to eliminate wavering and in eifect coordinates the firearm with the body of the user.

The looped free end 2 of the sling l is usually caught above the elbow of the users aiming arm 3. When in a usual and normal shooting position, the arm 3 is flexed to locate the aiming hand '5 firmly against the firearm connected end of the sling I and to grip the fore-end 4 with the said hand, bringing the firearm to a firing position, and, if the sling is of proper length for the particular user, the firearm will be drawn rearwardly and firmly by the sling to locate the butt with a comfortable snugness against the butt sustaining shoulder 6 of the user. When, however, by reason of a change of physical position of the user, the hand 5 is maintained in the same position on the fore-end but located in a different position with reference to the horizontal so that the barrel of the firearm extends along a different plane of projection than when in normal shooting position, the butt sustaining shoulder 6 must of necessity be moved to compensate for the new position of the hand 5 with reference to the horizontal, and the relation of the sling to the shoulder changes. Thus, the sling may become effectually either too loose or too tight, dependent on the nature of the change of the said plane of the projection. Heretofore, it has been the practice to readjust the length of the sling.

My invention provides a means whereby the users hand 5 may be moved with reference to the fore-end 4 upon a change of the projection plane of the barrel and when thus moved be braced in position. Thus, the butt sustaining shoulder 6 of the user may be maintained in a constant position, and the sling once adjusted and set expresses a constant pressure effect through the butt on the butt sustaining shoulder regardless of variations in said projection plane of the barrel. Said means includes a hand brace member In movably supported with reference to the barrel and fore end of the firearm and lockable in any of a variety of positions.

The brace member I!) is preferably formed of flexible sheet metal cut to a substantially oval shape. If desired, the metal may be bent so that the ends thereof curve arcuately in a common direction away from the central portion and approximate the arc defined between the thumb and index finger of a users hand. Further, if desired, the brace member may be provided with a pad H of a cushioning material, such as one formed of sponge rubber and the like, to thereby absorb the recoil shock exerted by the firearm through the brace member if) on the users hand and, together with the flexibility of the metal sheet forming the brace l0, enable a more complete fitting of the brace into the arcuate portion ofthe users hand described between the thumb and index finger thereof. The brace member Iii is movably mounted on the firearm with reference to the fore-end 4 by a bracket member [4 which extends into .a housing recess i5 formed in the said fore-end.

The recess i5 extends in a direction parallel to the extension of the fore-end 4. The bottom and end walls of the recess 55 are preferably sheathed by a metal band or strip 16 which may be bent and suitably connected to the fore-end, as by the screws 31, The open side of the recess 15 is closed by a face plate l8 which may be likewise suitably connected to the fore-end by the screws ii. The plate it has a slot l9 formed therein and extending along the line of extension of the recess 15. If desired, in forming the slot If), the plate is may be slit along the proposed line of the slot and midway of its proposed width, and the lips 28, thus formed, may bent rearwardly with respect to the face of the plate i8 and to a position within the recess i5 substantially at right angles to the plane of the plate is. Thus, a finished appearance of th plate l8 as well as an unbroken edge surface is provided about the slot 19.

The bracket member l4 illustrated in the drawing may be of a composite construction to facilitate manufacture and reduce the cost thereof. As shown, the bracket l4 comprises a bar and a reinforcing strip 2&5. The bar 25 is bent to form a pair of substantially parallel extending leg portions 2? and 28 between which extends, at substantially right angles thereto, a Web portion 29. The web portion 29 has oppositely disposed leg portions 38 and 32. The leg portions 3! and 32 are bent at right angles to the web portion 29 and extend in the same direction as do the leg portions 2'! and 2? in special relation to each other so as to bridge the width of the slot 59 and locate the lips 28 of the plate I8 therebetween, when the bar 25 is located in an installed position. The reinforcing strip 26 is bent to have leg portions 36 and 33 which extend substantially at right angles to each other. The strip 28 is adapted to be located in nesting relation to the bar 25, so that the leg portion is adjacent to the leg portion 27 of the bar 25, and the leg portion 33 is adjacent to the web portion 29. The leg portions 2? and 353 may be connected together in any suitable manner, as by rivets 35 which likewise may extend through the substantially central portions of the brace member and thereby connect the same as a unit. If desired, the web portion 293 and leg portion 33 may be interconnected, as by a suitable rivet 35. Thus, the strip ZBtends to reinforce the bar 25 and give increased rigidity thereto at the point of application of maximum strain in use.

The connected leg portions 21 and 30 extend through the slot is locating the leg portions 28, 3i, and 32 within the recess l5. The leg portion 28 forms a locking part, the eflicacy of which will be described hereinafter. The leg portions 31 and 32 act as bearing guides on the inner side of the face plate i8 and together with the lip portions 23 tend to prevent lateral movement of the brace Ill and restrict the movements of the bracket member M to directions parallel to the extension of the slot !9. If desired the leg portion 21 of the bar 25 may be cut to form oppositely extending shoulders 38 which, when the bar is in an installed position, slidingly bear against the edges and outer surfaces of the plate i3 neighboring the edges of th slot IS to thus further guide the movement of the bracket member and prevent lateral tipping thereof. Consequently, the brace member H] may be moved to and from various positions, two of which are indicated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawing, one in full line and the other at 39 in broken line.

In order to adjustably lock the bracket member M in any of a variety of positions along the slot IS, the lip portions 2!] are cut to form a plurality of sets of teeth 49, which form locking parts complementary to and engageable by the looking part or leg portion 28 of the bar 25. Thus, by moving the connected leg portions 21 and 30 angularly toward the plate l8 about an axis defined between the points of engagement of the shoulders 38 with the plate I8 and the points of engagement of the legs 3! and 32 with the plate I8, the leg portion 23 may be moved from engagement with one set of teeth 40 and the bracket member I l together with the brace member I!) may be moved longitudinally of the fore-end 4 as desired. The leg portion 28 may then engage another set of teeth 40 to again lock the brace ID in position.

To provide automatic means for effecting engagement of the leg portion 28, with a set of teeth 40, a band spring 4! is preferably connected to the bracket member 14, as by the rivets 35, and is bent so as to resiliently bear against the strip l6. Thus, when the bracket member [4 is tilted as heretofore described to disengage the leg portion 28 from a set of teeth 40, the spring 4! will be distorted and will resist said tilting movements to urge the leg portion into engagement with a set of teeth 40. The spring 4! not only serves to effect an automatic locking of the hand brace in a desired position, but also provides a resilient bearing point tending to prevent vibration of the parts within the recess i5 and a loading unit to take up the looseness of part relation caused by extended wear and use.

The sling I may be connected in any suitable manner Well known in the art. Preferably, however, when a sling is used in conjunction with a structure embodying the spirit of my invention, it is desirable to connect the sling at a point spacially distant from the fore-end. Thus, the plate I8 may be provided with a pair of depending ears 42 between which extends a pin 43. A bight in the sling I is adapted to extend around the pin 43 and thus connect the sling at a point where free manipulation of the hand With respect to the fore-end and ready adjustment of the hand brace may be effected without interference of the sling.

In operation, the user fixes the length of his sling I to a length that is neither too long nor too short for an average shooting position. When the user is called upon to shoot from a position which varies from the average position, such as reclining on an inclined slope or on an irregular terrain, he moves his aiming hand 5 along the fore-end 4 until the plane of projection of the barrel is common to that of the target, then with his other hand he moves the hand brace to a position whereby the hand 5 may bear against said brace. Thus, the adjustments of the brace may be effected while the user remains in a shooting position. The user is cradled between the brace l and the sling I, the hand bearing against the brace and the sling causing the butt to bear against the users shoulder 6 to give a comfortable sighting and firing position.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best forms of my invention now known to me, those skilled in the art will readily understand that many changes may be made in the form of construction disclosed, without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a firearm having a fore-end, an adjustable hand brace therefor comprising a flexible hand-engageable member, a bracket member connected to the flexible member, a plate member, the plate member adapted to be mounted on the fore-end and having a slot, the edges of the slot being provided with a plurality of teeth, the bracket member extending through the slot and adapted to engage a tooth of said plurality of teeth when located in one position of angularity with respect to the plate and to disengage said tooth when moved to another position of angularity with respect to the plate whereby the bracket and flexible members may be moved and locked in any of a variety of positions along said slot.

2. In combination with a firearm having a foreend, an adjustable hand brace therefor comprising a flexible hand-engageable member, a bracket member connected to the flexible member, a plate member adapted to be mounted on the fore-end and having a slot, a strip member adapted to be mounted on the fore-end in superimposed relation to the plate member and extending along the line of the slot, the bracket member extending through the slot toward the strip member and being movable along the slot, a plurality of teeth formed on the plate and adapted to be engaged by the bracket member, and a resilient element movably mounted with reference to the strip and extending between the said strip and said bracket members to yieldingly resist movements of the bracket member toward the strip member and tending to urge the bracket member to engage said teeth.

3. In a fore-end of a firearm having a sling connecting means, an adjustable hand brace adapted to be mounted on said fore-end comprising a member against which the hand gripping the fore-end is adapted to abut, a movable bracket member for supporting the first named member with reference to said firearm, a housing plate adapted to be supported on said firearm and having a slot, the bracket member extending through and movable along said slot, and means disposed Within said housing plate adapted to be engaged by said bracket member to thereby lock the bracket member against movement along said slot.

4. An adjustable handbrace adapted to be attached to a fore-end of a firearm having a sling connecting means, said hand brace comprising an abutment member against which a hand gripping the fore-end may abut, a plate adapted to be supported on the fore-end, a bracket member connected to the abutment member for supporting the same and slidably connected to the plate, said bracket member being also movable angularly relative to the plate to locate the abutment member in various angular positions relative to the plate, means on said plate adapted to be engaged by-said bracket member when the same is in one of said angular positions to thereby lock the bracket member against sliding movement with reference to the plate and to be disengaged by said bracket member when the same is in another of said angular positions to thereby unlock the bracket member and permit sliding movement thereof with locking part complementary to the plate locking parts extending through said opening into said recess to engage one of said plate locking parts, the bracket locking part being angularly movable relative to the plate to locate the locking part in various angular positions to said plate and being adapted to engage one of said plate locking parts when in one of said angular positions to thereby lock the bracket member and supported abutment member against sliding movement with reference to said plate and to disengage said plate locking part when moved to another of said angular positions to thereby unlock and permit sliding movement of the bracket member and supported abutment member with reference to said plate.

6. In combination with a fire arm having a sling-connecting means, an adjustable hand abutment member against which a hand gripping the firearm is adapted to abut, means including a plate supported on said firearm defining a recess, said plate having an opening communicating with said recess, a locking part located within said recess adjacent said plate opening, a supporting member connected to said abutment member, said supporting member having a locking part complementary to said first-named locking part and connected to said sup-porting member extending through said plate opening into said recess, said second-named locking part being angularly movable in said plate opening to various angular positions with reference to said first-named locking part to engage and disengage said first-named locking part, whereby, when said second-named locking part engages said first-named locking part, the supporting member and abutment member supported thereby are locked against movement along the plate and relative to the plate opening and said sling-connecting means and, when said second-named locking part is disengaged from said first-named locking part, the said supporting member and associated abutment member are free and permitted to move along the plate and relative to the plate opening and said sling-connecting means.

7. An adjustable hand brace adapted to be attached to a fore-end of a firearm having a slingconnecting means, said hand brace comprising an abutment member against which a hand gripping the fore-end may abut, a plate adapted to be supported on the fore-end, a bracket member connected to the abutment member for supporting the same and slidably connected to the plate, the bracket member having a locking part, said bracket member locking part being movable angularly with reference to the plate to locate the same in various angular positions to the plate, means complementary to said bracket member locking part formed on said plate and adapted to be engaged by said bracket member locking part when the same is in one of said angular positions to thereby lock the bracket member against sliding movement with reference to the plate and to be disengaged by said bracket member locking part when the same is in another of said angular positions thereby permitting sliding movements of the bracket member With reference to the. plate, and means tending to urge the bracket member locking part to engage the plate complementary means to thereby automatically lock the bracket member against sliding movement with reference to the plate.

ROY W. ROBERTS. 

